loss
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the fact of no longer having something that you used to have.
the state or instance of being deprived of or no longer possessing something.
Simple“The loss of his keys meant he had to wait outside for hours.”
In context“The sudden loss of his hearing in one ear forced the musician to adapt his entire approach to live performance.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
SynonymsdeprivationmisplacementAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
the death of a person or the feeling of sadness when someone dies.
the death of a person or animal, or the resulting state of bereavement.
Simple“The whole community felt the loss of the local doctor.”
In context“The family struggled to cope with the tragic loss of their youngest son in the accident.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
a failure to win a game, race, or competition.
an instance of being defeated in a contest or competition.
Simple“After their third loss in a row, the team changed their coach.”
In context“Despite a valiant effort in the final minutes, the team suffered a narrow loss that ended their championship hopes.”
UsageCountable in this sense.
- 04 B1 Intermediate
an amount of money that a person or company loses.
the amount by which the cost of a business or transaction exceeds the revenue.
Simple“The company reported a huge loss for the second year in a row.”
In context“Investors were warned that the startup might operate at a loss for several years before becoming profitable.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrase 'at a loss'.
- 05 C1 Advanced
energy or power that is wasted and does not do useful work.
the dissipation of energy, such as electricity or heat, without performing useful work.
Simple“Better insulation in the roof will reduce heat loss during the winter.”
In context“Engineers worked to minimise energy loss in the transmission lines to improve the overall efficiency of the grid.”
UsageOften uncountable when referring to the phenomenon in general.
Synonyms
Usage loss of life · economic loss · loss involve